History of the 1982 Penny
In 1982 rising copper prices forced the Mint to switch the cent from 95% copper to copper-plated zinc mid-year — while also modifying the date size on the dies. The result is seven regular combinations of composition, mint and date size, making 1982 the most complicated year in Lincoln cent history.
The eighth combination is the star: the 1982-D Small Date in bronze was never supposed to exist, because Denver reportedly struck only zinc cents with the small date. A handful have been discovered since 2016, selling for five figures at auction.
The 1982 cent was struck in 1982, a transition year in bronze early in the year, copper-plated zinc afterwards. Production took place at Philadelphia and Denver.
How much is a 1982 cent worth?
Condition drives everything in numismatics. A heavily worn 1982 cent and a pristine one can differ in price by a factor of ten or more, so treat the figures below as broad retail ranges for problem-free coins rather than fixed quotes.
For a live market check, recent sold listings beat out-of-date price guides every time. CoinVault Pro combines Numista catalog data with real eBay sold prices for every coin it recognizes, so you can see what buyers are actually paying this month — not what a book claimed years ago.
- Common combinations, circulated: face value–$0.25
- Uncirculated red examples: $1–$10
- 1982-D Small Date bronze (error): $10,000+
How to identify a genuine 1982 Penny
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the 1982 cent, check the following:
If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.
- Weigh the coin: bronze cents weigh 3.11 grams, zinc cents 2.50 grams — a kitchen scale accurate to 0.01 g settles it.
- Small Date: the 2 has a flat, straight base and the 8 has equal-size loops; Large Date digits are bolder with a curled 2.
- A 1982-D Small Date weighing 3.11 grams is a potential five-figure discovery — get it authenticated.
Check your 1982 cent with CoinVault Pro
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